BELL/AGUSTA BA609

The 'Bell/Agusta BA609' is a civil twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to the Bell Helicopter Textron/Boeing V-22 Osprey.
It is being developed by Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC), a joint venture between Bell Helicopter Textron and AgustaWestland.^[1]

Contents

Design and development

Specifications

Costs

Interior Measurements

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

The first ground tests of the BA609 prototype began December 6, 2002 and the first flight took place on March 6 2003 in Arlington, Texas, with Roy Hopkins and Dwayne Williams as test pilots. After 14 hours of helicopter-mode flight testing, the prototype was moved to a ground testing rig for ground-based testing of conversion modes.^[2] On June 3, 2005, having completed the ground-based testing, the prototype resumed flight testing and expansion of its flight envelope.^[3] This lead to the first conversion to airplane mode while in flight on July 22, 2005.^[4]
Certification of the aircraft is projected for 2010.^[5] BAAC has received orders for over 60 aircraft.^[6]

Specifications

Costs

★ The cost of the vehicle has not been announced; deposits are taken to reserve the right to purchase an aircraft. Final price is to be announced at least 24 months before first delivery.

★
★ ''"At least US$10 Million"'' - Terry Stinson, then chairman and CEO of Bell Helicopters, in 2001.^[7]

★
★ ''"Early orders were taken at a price of between $8 and $10 million dollars, adjusted to year of delivery. Those were all sold and, since 1999, orders have been at a price to be confirmed no later than 24 months before aircraft delivery"'' - Don Barbour, then executive marketing director, in 2004.^[8]

Interior Measurements

★ Dimension (Internal Cabin):

★
★ Length: 4.09 m (161 in)

★
★ Width: 1.47 m (58 in)

★
★ Height: 1.42 m (56 in)

References

1. Frawley, Gerard: ''The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004'', page 48. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
2. American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: March 2005
3. American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: June 2005
4. American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: July 2005
5. [1]
6. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/ba609/
7. Aviation Week ''On the record''. 2001
8. Aviation International News, New Rotorcraft 2004

External links

★ Bell/Agusta BA609 Official Website

★ German aviation magazine

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